Uploading and Managing Images

You should upload or manage images when an existing game record is missing useful media, has the wrong image, has a duplicate, or has artwork that could be replaced with a cleaner and more accurate version. Good images make LaunchBox and Big Box libraries look better, and they help other users get useful media when importing or refreshing games.

Common reasons to submit image changes include adding missing front box art, uploading a cleaner clear logo, replacing a blurry screenshot, correcting an image that was put in the wrong category, adding region-specific box art, or removing an image that belongs to a different game.

Start by checking the existing images

Before uploading anything, open the game page and review the images that are already there. Images are grouped by type, and each image can show useful details like its image type, region, and dimensions.

Open the image gallery and look for duplicates, incorrect regions, low-quality scans, stretched images, watermarks, or images that are in the wrong category. This quick check helps you decide whether you should add a new image, replace an existing image, or request that an image be deleted.

If the existing image is correct and your image is simply another useful version, add it as a new image. If your image is a better version of the same asset, replace the existing one. If the existing image should not be attached to the game at all, request deletion.

Open image management

To manage images, sign in to your Games Database account and open the game details page for the game you want to update.

On the game page, choose Manage images. This opens the image management area where you can add new images, edit existing images, or mark images for deletion.

If image controls are disabled, the image or image area may be locked. In that case, leave the locked item unchanged and update only the images that are available.

Add a new image

Use this when the game is missing an image or when your image is a different useful asset that should sit alongside the existing media.

To add an image:

1. Select Manage images from the game page.

2. Select Add new image.

3. Choose the correct Type. The site needs the type before upload because some validation rules depend on it.

4. Use Upload your image to select a PNG or JPG file.

5. Choose the correct Region if the image belongs to a specific regional release.

6. Enter a clear Reason explaining what you are adding and why.

7. Select Done to add the image to your pending image changes.

8. Submit the overall image changes from the edit dialog when you are ready.

A good reason might be Added missing North America front box art from retail cover or Added transparent clear logo for the game title.

Replace an existing image

Use replace when the current image is the right kind of image, but your file is a better version of that same asset. For example, replace a blurry front box scan with a cleaner front box scan for the same region, or replace a low-resolution clear logo with a higher-quality transparent version.

Do not replace an image with a different asset. If the current image is a front box and your upload is a back box, add the back box as a new image instead. If the current image is North America box art and your upload is Japan box art, add the Japan image separately or update the region only if the original was labeled incorrectly.

To replace an image:

1. Select Manage images from the game page.

2. Find the image you want to replace.

3. Open the image actions menu using the three-dot button.

4. Select Edit.

5. Confirm or change the Type if the existing type is wrong.

6. Use Replace image in the upload control to choose the improved file.

7. Choose the correct Region.

8. Enter a Reason explaining why the replacement is better.

9. Select Done, then submit the image changes.

A useful reason might be Replaced blurry front box with a cleaner scan of the same North America cover.

Edit the type or region without replacing the file

Sometimes the image itself is fine, but it has the wrong type or region. For example, a gameplay screenshot may have been added as a title screen, or European box art may have been marked as North America.

To correct this:

1. Select Manage images.

2. Find the image that needs correcting.

3. Open the three-dot action menu.

4. Select Edit.

5. Change the Type or Region as needed.

6. Enter a Reason, such as Changed region to Europe because this is PAL box art.

7. Select Done, then submit the image changes.

Delete an image

Use deletion when an image should not remain attached to the game. Good reasons include a duplicate image, an image for the wrong game, a badly corrupted upload, third-party watermarking, or media that belongs in a different record.

Do not delete an image just because a better version exists. In that case, replace it. Do not delete useful but imperfect media unless it is clearly wrong or harmful to the record.

To delete an image:

1. Select Manage images.

2. Find the image you want to delete.

3. Open the image actions menu using the three-dot button.

4. Select Delete.

5. In the Delete this image? dialog, enter a clear Reason.

6. Select Confirm.

7. Submit the image changes.

A good deletion reason might be Duplicate of existing front box image or This image is for the sequel, not this game.

Choose the right image type

The image type tells LaunchBox what the image is and where it should be used. Choosing the wrong type can make media appear in the wrong place in a user's library.

Pick the most specific correct type. For example, use Box - Front for front cover art, Box - Back for back cover art, Clear Logo for a transparent game logo, Screenshot - Gameplay for an in-game gameplay screenshot, Screenshot - Game Title for a title screen, Disc for disc media, and Poster for poster-style artwork.

Use fanart categories for fan-created or non-official artwork that is still useful as library media. Use reconstructed categories when the image is a reconstructed version rather than an original scan or official asset.

If you are unsure which type fits, compare the image to existing examples on the game page and refer to the moderation guidelines before submitting.

Choose the right region

The region tells users which release the image belongs to. This is especially important for box art, carts, discs, flyers, and other media that can differ between North America, Europe, Japan, and other regional releases.

Choose a region when the image is tied to a specific regional version. For example, a PAL box cover should use the appropriate European region, Japanese cover art should use Japan, and North American box art should use North America. If the image is not region-specific, choose the most appropriate general or non-region-specific option available.

Regions help LaunchBox and users choose artwork that best matches their library. They also help moderators understand whether two similar images are duplicates or valid regional variants.

If you are unsure which image types need a region, or which region best fits an image, refer to the moderation guidelines before submitting. When in doubt, explain your reasoning in the Reason field so moderators have context.

Follow upload quality expectations

Images should improve the database. Upload PNG or JPG files that are clear, correctly cropped, and free from unrelated watermarks, third-party logos, borders, heavy compression artifacts, and obvious stretching.

The upload form also validates certain technical requirements. For example, some image types require transparency, icons must stay within the allowed size, square images must be square, and poster images must meet poster size and aspect ratio rules.

If the site shows an error after selecting a type or file, read the message, correct the image or choose the correct type, and try again.

Submit and track image changes

When you select Done, the image change is added to your pending changes in the edit dialog. It is not public yet. Review the pending additions, replacements, or deletions, then submit the edit dialog when you are ready.

After submission, image changes go through moderation. Moderators review the image, type, region, quality, and reason before approving or rejecting it. Approved image changes appear on the public game page and become available for LaunchBox users to download. Rejected image changes do not apply to the public record.

You can use the changes/status area of the website to check whether your image submission is pending, approved, or rejected.

Good habits for image submissions

• Check existing images before uploading.

• Add new images when they are different useful assets.

• Replace images only when your upload is a better version of the same asset.

• Delete images only when they should not remain on the game record.

• Choose the most specific correct image type.

• Choose a region when the image belongs to a regional release.

• Use the reason field to explain what changed and why.

• Refer to the moderation guidelines when you are unsure about type, region, or quality standards.